You are not required to retain a lawyer to resolve a personal injury claim. You should consider a number of factors in deciding whether you need a lawyer.

If the injury is not serious or permanent you may be better off handling the claim on your own. A lawyer may be able to get the insurance company to pay more, but the lawyer will take around one third of what is paid for attorney's fees. So, even though the insurance company may pay more you may receive less.

There are a number of books that describe the claim process and explain how to settle the case on your own.

If the injuries are serious or result in long term disability you should consider hiring a lawyer. The insurance company will use adjusters trained in law, medical issues, and negotiation, and who have years of claims adjusting experience to handle serious cases. The adjuster's job is to minimize how much the insurance company pays. The insurance company for the person who harmed you has no duty to treat you fairly. It is generally a mistake for a person to handle his own case when he has been seriously injured.